After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s, Mrs. Bavibidila took her degree in child psychology to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a member of the Peace Corps. She worked to educate the public there about HIV and AIDS prevention. With her service in the Peace Corps over, she returned to the United States and accepted a job with the Centers for Disease Control. Once again, she was sent out to provide education on the spread of AIDS to people in Zaire, Ivory Coast and Haiti, as well as in U.S. cities such as Miami and New York.

Detroit -- Once she figured out she wanted to spend her life helping people, Teresa Bavibidila spent years doing just that -- no matter where it took her.

Bavibidila, 48, died April 2 after a yearlong battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Word of Faith International Christian Center's Chapel, 20000 West Nine Mile Road in Southfield.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s, Mrs. Bavibidila took her degree in child psychology to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a member of the Peace Corps. She worked to educate the public there about HIV and AIDS prevention.

With her service in the Peace Corps over, she returned to the United States and accepted a job with the Centers for Disease Control. Once again, she was sent out to provide education on the spread of AIDS to people in Zaire, Ivory Coast and Haiti, as well as in U.S. cities such as Miami and New York.

Her willingness to reach out to strangers was an integral part of her personality, according to her husband, Dr. Berthollet Bavibidila.

"If you got lost, and Teresa met you on the road, Teresa would give you a hand," he said. "She would take you home and help until you were able to find your way. That was her nature. She wanted to help people."

Recently, Mrs. Bavibidila was finishing work on a doctorate in medical anthropology at Wayne State University -- the same school where her mother once served as the dean of liberal arts. With the degree in hand, Teresa hoped to return to foreign countries to once again educate lower-income communities about safe practices.

"She was a comfort to people," said her mother, Sondra O'Neale. "She was always trying to make peace between people."

Born in Springfield, Mass., Mrs. Bavibidila eventually made herself part of the Detroit community.

While pursuing her studies, she helped establish nonprofit organizations in the city including the Continuum of Care Collaboration Inc., which is aimed at helping low-income residents.

Mrs. Bavibidila is survived by her husband and her mother; sister, Nancy O'Neale; brother, Michael O'Neale; adopted sister, Virginia Kouakou; brother-in-law, N'Guessan Kouakou; adopted brother, Eugene Kouassi; nephew, Alfred Loka; and other extended family members in Africa and the United States.

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Story Source: Detroit News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Congo Brazzaville; Obituaries

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